The  Beginning  of  a 
Transformed  Church 


ACKNOWLEDGMENT  DAY 


INTERCHURCH  WORLD  MOVEMENT 
OF  NORTH  AMERICA 
111  Fifth  Avenue  New  York  City 


Interchurch  Topical  Calendar 


JANUARY 

Period  for  Prayer  and  Evangelism 
FEBRUARY 

Christian  Stewardship  Educational 
Period 

February  22.  Stewardship  Acknowledg- 
ment  Sunday 

February  29.  Life  Service  Enlistment 
Sunday 

MARCH 

Pre-Easter  Period  for  the  Deepening  of 
the  Spiritual  Life 

EASTER  SUNDAY 
National  Ingathering  Day 

APRIL 

United  Financial  Campaign  Preceded  by 
Educational  Campaign  on  Inter- 
church Objectives 


February  Stewardship  Catechism 


I 

Who  Designated  February  as  the  Inter- 
church Stewardship  Period? 

Representatives  of  the  various  denominational 
forward  movements  at  the  Atlantic  City  Confer- 
ence made  the  recommendation  to  the  Interchurch 
Executive  Committee. 


II 

Why  Was  a Stewardship  Educational 
Period  Necessary? 

Because  a tide  of  Stewardship  is  arising  in  nearly 
every  communion  demanding  a revival  of  study 
of  the  scriptural  teachings  of  Christian  Steward- 
ship especially  in  relation  to  life  and  property. 
The  final  solution  of  the  industrial  problems,  to 
say  nothing  about  other  problems  more  immedi- 
ately related  to  the  evangelization  of  the  world, 
waits  for  a new  emphasis  upon  God’s  Ownership 
and  Man’s  Stewardship. 

“The  money  that  belongs  by  every  right  to  God 
but  is  kept  back  from  him  by  his  people  is 
probably  the  greatest  hindrance  to  vital  spirit- 
uality that  there  is  in  the  world  today.” — Selected. 


February  Stewardship  Catechism 


HI 

Who  Designated  Sunday,  February  22, 
as  Stewardship  Acknowledgment  Day? 

It  was  recommended  by  the  Stewardship  Repre- 
sentatives of  the  various  communions  at  a confer- 
ence in  New  York  called  by  the  Stewardship  De- 
partment of  the  Interchurch  World  Movement. 

IV 

What  is  the  Purpose  of  the  Stewardship 
Acknowledgment  Sunday? 

To  secure  a nation-wide  emphasis  upon  the  “first- 
fruits”  principle  that  a genuine  belief  in  God’s 
Ownership  and  Man’s  Stewardship  requires  an 
acknowledgment  in  the  way  of  a first  proportion 
of  income  to  be  used  for  the  Kingdom  of  God. 
“We  need  some  practical  abiding  principle  like 
this  to  make  sure  that  the  principle  of  steward- 
ship is  a reality  in  our  lives,  and  that  we  do  not 
inwardly  find  ourselves  swept  into  self-decep- 
tion.”— Robert  E.  Speer. 

V 

What  Program  is  Suggested  for  Steward- 
ship Acknowledgment  Sunday? 

Each  Pastor  is  urged  to  make  his  own  program 
involving  at  least  two  features;  1.  A sermon  on 
Christian  Stewardship  emphasizing  the  “acknowl- 
edgment” principle;  2.  An  enrolment  by  card  of 
Christian  stewards  preferably  by  parish  visitation. 


February  Stewardship  Catechism 


VI 

Is  Any  Other  Method  of  Enrolment  Sug- 
gested? 

Yes,  in  the  public  congregation,  Sunday  school, 
young  peoples  and  other  societies,  but  these  will 
evidently  be  incomplete  unless  followed  by  the 
canvass  of  the  entire  membership. 

VII 

Where  Can  Stewardship  Enrolment 
Cards  be  Obtained? 

At  your  own  denominational  headquarters ; or  the 
Interchurch  Stewardship  Enrolment  Card  can  be 
secured  at  111  Fifth  Avenue,  New  York. 

VIII 

What  Other  Methods  are  Suggested  for 
Making  the  February  Period  more  Ef- 
fective? 

A series  of  Stewardship  sermons  preceding  the 
Acknowledgment  Day  on  February  22  will  more 
certainly  educate  the  parish  and  insure  intelligent 
cooperation.  If  definite  sermon  helps  are  not 
available  at  your  own  denominational  headquar- 
ters a suggested  outline  for  a series  of  Steward- 
ship sermons  has  been  prepared  by  the  Inter- 
church  World  Movement.  A chapter  of  the 


February  Stewardship  Catechism 


Stewardship  text-book,  “The  New  Christian,”  is 
devoted  to  such  outlines  together  with  programs 
suggested  hereafter  in  this  pamphlet. 

IX 

Are  Stewardship  Pamphlets  Available  for 
Parish  Distribution? 

Yes,  the  best  literature  in  several  communions 
has  been  selected.  Catalog  sent  free  of  literature, 
charts  and  other  helps. 


X 

Have  Helps  Been  Prepared  for  Steward- 
ship Education  in  the  Sunday  School? 

Yes,  two  series  of  Stewardship  Programs  de- 
signed to  be  used  in  connection  with  the  opening 
service  have  been  prepared  by  the  Interchurch 
World  Movement,  at  a nominal  price  in  pamphlet 
form. 

XI 

What  Stewardship  Study  Class  Text- 
books are  Available  for  the  February 
Period? 

“The  Acid  Test,”  by  David  McConaughy  (paper 
50  cents,  cloth  75  cents),  and  “The  New  Chris- 
tian,” by  Ralph  S.  Cushman  (paper  25  cents, 
cloth  50  cents).  Orders  will  be  filled  from  Inter- 
church  Movement  headquarters. 


February  Stewardship  Catechism 


XII 

What  are  Other  Suggested  Programs? 

“The  True  Story  of  a Live-Wire  Stewardship 
Reading  Contest”  will  be  sent  free  for  use  in 
women’s  societies.  It  can  be  used  in  any  church 
and  will  arouse  the  entire  parish. 

XIII 

What  is  the  Ten  Million  Christian  Stew- 
ardship League? 

The  Ten  Million  League  of  Christian  Stewards 
is  a league  of  all  persons  in  every  communion, 
who,  in  loving  loyalty  to  their  Lord,  purpose  to 
set  apart  a definite  first  proportion  of  income  as 
an  acknowledgment  of  God’s  ownership  and  their 
stewardship.  Each  communion  is  to  make  its  own 
interpretation  of  Christian  stewardship  principles 
and  the  total  enrolments  will  compose  the  final 
count  of  the  league  of  Ten  Millions. 

XIV 

Where  Can  Additional  Information  be 
Obtained? 

From  Stewardship  Department,  Interchurch 
World  Movement,  111  Fifth  Avenue,  New  York 
City. 

“One  more  revival,  only  one  more  is  needed;  the 
revival  of  Christian  stewardship,  the  consecration 
of  the  money  power  to  God.  When  that  revival 
comes,  the  kingdom  of  God  will  come  in  a day." 

— Horace  Bushnell. 


PritinplpB  fax 
(Efinatian  ^tftwarhalitp 

1.  God  is  owner  of  all  things. 

2.  Every  man  is  a steward  and  must  give 
account  for  all  that  is  entrusted  to  him. 

3.  God’s  ownership  and  man’s  steward- 
ship ought  to  be  acknowledged. 

4.  This  acknowledgment  requires,  as  part 
of  its  expression,  the  setting  apart  for 
the  extension  of  the  kingdom  of  Christ 
such  a portion  of  income  as  is  recog- 
nized by  the  individual  to  be  the  Will 
of  God.* 

5.  The  separated  portion  ought  to  be  ad- 
ministered for  the  kingdom  of  God  and 
the  remainder  recognized  as  no  less  a 
trust. 


*NOTE:  Most  Christian  Stewards  begin  with  the 
tenth.  The  proportion  should  increase  as  income 
increases.  The  Federal  Income  Tax  Law  exempts 
to  15  per  cent,  of  income  given  for  purposes  of 
religion,  charity,  etc. 


No.  334.  I.  60.  Dec.  T9. 


